Cincinnati Tool Steel Company

Phone #: (815) 226-8800 (800) 435-0717 Fax #: (815) 226-4388

AISI A6
Air Hardening Die Steel
A6 is an air hardening, cold work die steel which exhibits less distortion during heat treatment
than water or oil hardening steels and most high alloy, air hardening die steels. It is a fully air
hardening steel, a 6 inch cube hardening to Rockwell C 60 in still air. In addition, A6 has the
advantage of a low hardening temperature range, 1500'-1600F, usually available only in oil
hardening steels.

The minimum distortion characteristic of A6 makes it particularly attractive for dies and punches
in blanking and forming operations, for gages, or for other tools where close size tolerance is
important.

Typical Analysis

Carbon .70 Chromium 1.00

Manganese 2.00 Molybdenum 1.35
Silicon .30 Sulfur .09

Annealing
A6 may be annealed in either a controlled atmospheric furnace or packed in spent pitch coke,
spent cast iron chips, or in lime, fine dry ashes, sand, or ground mica with approximately 10
percent burned charcoal added. Heat to 1325- 1375°F and hold approximately 4 hours for each
inch of thickness. Cool very slowly at a rate of 20' per hour to approximately 1000°F. Annealed
hardness range is normally 235 to 245 Brinell.

Hardening
The hardening temperature range for A6 is from 1500'-1600°F. Tools with simple shapes may be
heated directly to the hardening temperature from room temperature. A preheat of 1200-1250°F
should be used for tools or intricate shapes. A furnace atmosphere for hardening should be
slightly oxidizing. Cool in still air or an air blast.

Tempering
To obtain high hardness with minimum distortion, A6 should be tempered at temperatures
between 300-400°F. Tempering time will vary with the size of the piece being hardened, but even
the smallest tools should be tempered for a minimum of 1 hour. Reference to the hardening and
tempering table will give approximate hardness obtained with various tempering temperatures.
 Hardening Air Cooled Shepherd Tempering
Temp. Hardness Fracture Temp. Hardness
°F Rockwell C Rating Rating Rockwell C
1400 56 9 300 54
400 54
500 51.5
600 51
700 49
800 47
900 44
1000 41
1450 60.5 9 300 60
400 58.5
500 57
600 56
700 54
800 49.5
900 47
1000 43
1500 61.5 9 300 60.5
400 59
500 56
600 55
700 53
800 50
900 48
1000 44
1550 62 9 300 60.5
400 59
500 56
600 56
700 54
800 51
900 48.5
1000 45
1600 63 9 300 61
400 59
500 57
600 56.5
700 54.5
800 52.5
900 50
1000 46
1650 60 8.5 300 57
400 56
500 56
600 56
700 55.5
800 52.5
900 51
1000 46

Data shown are typical, and should not be construed as maximum or minimum values for specification or for final design.
Data on any particular piece of material may vary from those herein.